TN Box Office Showdown: Idli Kadai vs Kantara Chapter 1
In Tamil Nadu, cinema fans are buzzing as Dhanush’s directorial venture Idli Kadai shares the stage with Kantara Chapter 1, released in quick succession around the festive season. Both films drew audiences to theatres, each riding a strong wave of anticipation and curiosity about who would emerge as the top-grossing film in the state.
Idli Kadai: Dhanush’s Directorial Return
Idli Kadai marks Dhanush’s return to the director’s chair, with him also starring in the lead role. The cast includes veteran star Rajkiran, Nithya Menen, and Satyaraj in pivotal roles, with music composed by GV Prakash Kumar and Arun Vijay playing the antagonist. The release coincided withAyudha Puja and Vijaya Dashami festivities, boosting initial footfalls in theatres. While there is no official box office tally released yet, industry chatter points to strong early performance:
– Opening day across Tamil Nadu and Telugu markets: around Rs 11 crore
– Opening weekend/two-day total: around Rs 20 crore
In Tamil Nadu specifically, early reports suggest a first-day gross of about Rs 4.67 crore, indicating healthy local interest even as official numbers are awaited.
Kantara Chapter 1/2: A Pan‑Indian Entry in Tamil Markets
From the Kannada cinema landscape, Kantara Chapter 1 became a nationwide talking point, and Kantara Chapter 2 released the day after Idli Kadai, expanding its reach across multiple languages. The second installment saw a bigger, pan‑Indian push with audiences across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and more turning out in large numbers. While Tamil Nadu-specific figures for Chapter 2 are modest on day one (reported around Rs 2.63 crore), the international and multi-language momentum pushed a higher global tally for opening day—roughly around Rs 60 crore worldwide, according to various trade reports. As with Idli Kadai, no official Tamil Nadu box office numbers have been published, but the scene clearly reflects strong cross‑regional appeal for Kantara’s expanded chapter(s).
Who Leads in Tamil Nadu?
Based on the early indicators, Idli Kadai is leading the Tamil Nadu box office in the opening phase, thanks to Dhanush’s star power, the festival release boost, and strong local engagement. Kantara Chapter 2, while not toppling Idli Kadai on day one in Tamil Nadu, demonstrates the robust appetite for pan‑Indian storytelling that travels well across language barriers. This dynamic underlines a broader trend in Tamil cinema where regional stars and cross‑language hits both find loyal audiences in the state.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for Tamil Cinema
The Tamil Nadu box office clash between Idli Kadai and Kantara’s latest installments highlights two important patterns: (1) festival-season releases can significantly lift initial turnout, and (2) pan‑Indian projects continue to attract Tamil audiences even when they originate outside Tamil cinema. As the official numbers arrive, fans and analysts will watch closely which film sustains momentum into the second weekend, and how word-of-mouth affects repeat viewers and weekday performances. In the meantime, Tamil Nadu viewers have a balanced mix to choose from—Dhanush’s directorial comeback with Idli Kadai and the broader Kantara universe expanding its footprint across the country.
Bottom Line
For now, Idli Kadai appears to hold the early lead in Tamil Nadu, while Kantara Chapter 2 showcases the power of pan‑Indian releases in drawing attention far beyond regional borders. Both titles reflect the vibrant, evolving tastes of Tamil audiences and the growing reach of Indian cinema in the festival season.
